The Real Deal New York

Residents riled over planned condo add-on to Chelsea church

Einhorn pushes on with 14-unit condominium over French Evangelical Church

March 10, 2014 06:39PM

Neighbors of a three-story Chelsea church are balking at the luxury condo topper developers have proposed.

Einhorn Development Group presented a rendering of the proposed 14-unit, gray block-style condominium that would would top the existing red brick French Evangelic Church at 124 West 16th Street to unimpressed neighborhood residents last week. Opponents of the proposed 11-story development called it “a mega tower… that will hideously engulf a history church,” in a flyer for the meeting.

The developer heard from disgruntled residents and agreed to remain flexible in construction plans and timing, but did not waver on the building’s size and look, according to a Facebook page announcement by detractors.

Einhorn purchased the site for $4 million in 2012, and more recently bought the remaining air rights above the church for an undisclosed amount, as The Real Dealpreviously reported. The church’s owner is using the money to restore the existing structure, according to previous reports. [Curbed] — Angela Hunt